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Alumni Relations

Empowering Black Women Entrepreneurs

Tia Upshaw's headshot. Image is of a Black woman (Tia), wearing her hair in a bun and a black blazer. She's smiling at the camera in front of a deep pink background.
Tia Upshaw is the CEO and Founder of Blk Women in Excellence, a not-for-profit in which she has supported and empowered over 137 female entrepreneurs.
Category: Entrepreneurship Grad Success

This past year, eight Black female students and alumni of NSCC invested in their entrepreneurial dreams by applying and being accepted into the Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Black and African Nova Scotian Cohort, partnered with Blk Women in Excellence.

NSCC Entrepreneurship partnered with Tia Upshaw (ALP ’06), CEO and Founder of Blk Women in Excellence, to create and launch this unique cohort in spring 2024. It is dedicated to supporting Black and African Nova Scotian female entrepreneurs in the NSCC community.

"I didn’t know what to expect when entering this partnership with NSCC to launch the first-ever cohort for Black and African Nova Scotian entrepreneurs. Not only have I had the privilege to educate, empower and inspire eight incredible Black women through this program, but I’ve also found myself deeply inspired and empowered by their journeys,” says Tia Upshaw.

“This experience has reaffirmed my commitment to this work, and I truly hope this is just the beginning—not the first or the last—of many cohorts dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship at NSCC and within our communities."

This photo is of Tamara, a Black woman who's wearing a black blazer and pants with her arms crossed with a look of determination.
Tamara Adderley Rolle is the owner of Fantasy Kustom Designs and a proud participant in this cohort.

Offering knowledge, resources and funding

Program participants learn entrepreneurial skills, gain access to various business supports and can each receive up to $3,000 in funding, proudly provided by NSCC Alumni Relations, to start or grow their business.

“Entrepreneurship can at times feel overwhelming and isolating, but being a part of this cohort provided a network of like-minded women who understand the challenges of being a Black business owner,” says Tamara Adderley Rolle (Health Information Management ’23).

Tamara is the owner and creative mind behind Fantasy Kustom Designs, a business that offers a variety of products, from customized t-shirts to branded keepsakes and balloon backdrops. Her business mission is to revolutionize the world of personalization by crafting bespoke solutions tailored to meet clients’ needs.

She describes this cohort as a transformative journey for her, both professionally and personally. “I've not only gained a wealth of knowledge through the sessions provided, but I have also gained a sisterhood that offers encouragement, motivation and a safe place to share experiences.”

Gaining access to funding is a big hurdle for many entrepreneurs, and is even more challenging for Black people. A 2021 cross-Canada survey conducted by Senator Amina Gerba, Colin Deacon and the African Canadian Senate Group shows that systemic barriers for Black entrepreneurs are still a very real problem.

“As a Black entrepreneur, access to funding is one of the unique challenges that we face in Nova Scotia and Canada at large. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to gain knowledge through this cohort and access the funding provided, which played a vital role in growing my business,” says Tamara.

“Through the program, I was able to register my business, open a business bank account and purchase much-needed supplies and inventory for my business. I am also happy to share that my website is underway and will be live in the upcoming weeks. This was all made possible through the Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Black and African Nova Scotian Cohort, partnered with Blk Women in Excellence.”

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